Table 1.

Summary of Locoregional Therapy Options for Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Modality	Techniques	Clinical Utility	Risks	Benefits
TAE	Particulate or liquid embolic agents	Disease control (BCLC B) and bridging/downstaging to transplant (BCLC A, B).	PES, liver failure, liver abscess/biloma	Improves OS vs. best supportive care. Avoids chemotherapy toxicity. Less expensive than TACE.
TACE	Conventional emulsified chemotherapeutic agent (c-TACE) or drug-eluting beads (DEB-TACE)	Same as TAE. Can combine with portal vein embolization before resection.	PES, liver failure, liver abscess/biloma	Improves OS vs. best supportive care. Simultaneous embolic and chemotherapeutic effects.
TARE	Yttrium-90 radioisotope loaded onto microspheres	Same as TAE/TACE. RS for nonsurgical early stage patients (BCLC 0, A). Can also be used in portal vein thrombosis.	RILD, radiation-induced pneumonitis, PES, liver failure, liver abscess/biloma	Higher quality of life/TTP vs. TACE. RS outcomes comparable to curative-intent treatments (e.g., resection and ablation) at 5 years
Ablation	Microwaves, radiofrequency alternating current, laser, cooling	Early stage HCC < 2–3 cm in non-surgical candidates (BCLC 0, A). Improved outcomes for tumors 3–5 cm when combined with TACE.	PAS, bleeding, adjacent organ injury	Similar outcomes as resection for tumors < 3 cm.

PES—postembolization syndrome. PAS—postablation syndrome. OS—overall survival. RILD—radiation-induced liver disease. CP—Childs-Pugh class. RS—radiation segmentectomy. TTP—time to progression.